The commencement of the 2023 CMA Awards was marked by an electrifying duet featuring rapper-turned-country singer Jelly Roll, who was later in the evening crowned “Best New Artist” and the iconic country music legend Wynonna Judd. The duo delivered a compelling rendition of Jelly Roll’s popular track “Need a Favor.” The performance captivated the entire audience, drawing enthusiastic participation from notable figures like Post Malone and Nicole Kidman.
However, despite the dynamic and crowd-pleasing performance, fans raised concerns about Wynonna’s well-being. The legendary artist has now come out to address the concerns as she shared more insight about her physical appearance at the event.
Fans are worried about Wynonna Judd’s performance at the CMA Awards
View this post on Instagram
Wynonna drew considerable attention after the joint performance. While her vocal abilities remained impressive, her fans noticed her brief, hesitant steps upon entering, and she consistently held onto Jelly’s jacket throughout the entire rendition.
RELATED: Wynonna Judd Almost Passes Out While Performing On Tour
Fans quickly voiced their concerns on social media, speculating if her struggles with vertigo, which she publicly acknowledged twice this year, had resurfaced. “Anyone think that Wynonna Judd was acting a bit off with Jelly Roll??” a fan asked via X. “I’m worried about Wynonna Judd on this opening song from the CMA Awards,” another person wrote. “She looked like she could barely walk, grabbed Jelly Roll’s jacket, and didn’t MOVE.”
“She looked scared to death and was hanging on to Jelly Roll for dear life. Something isn’t right,” a third fan commented, while someone else stated, “It was seriously bizarre. I wonder what’s going on? She barely moved once she got a death grip on him.”
She clears the air about her CMA Awards performance
Amidst numerous speculations regarding her welfare, the country singer has come out to clarify the perceived “bizarre” conduct her fans witnessed during her duet with Roll by sharing insights on both Instagram and TikTok.
The 59-year-old shared a video where she clarified that her behavior was borne out of anxiety, which she felt during the performance. “Don’t read the comments they say…Don’t read the comments, I read the comments!” Judd captioned the post. “I’m just gonna come clean with y’all. I was so freaking nervous.”
“I got out there, and I looked at Jelly Roll. I wanted it to be so good for him,” she added. “I could cry right now, but I’m not going to because I’m such a fan of his, and he asked me to sing, and I said, ‘Absolutely!’ I got out there, and I was so nervous that I just held on for dear life. And that’s the bottom line.”